Newcastle hope to clinch their third signing of the summer this week after reportedly offering the Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis a colossal 2.5 million signing on fee. Following the arrivals of Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback in recent days the Magpies have turned their attentions to securing the signature of Gomis and French daily L'equipe say we are prepared to break the bank to bring him to St James' Park. It's thought Mike Ashley is open to the idea of bringing Gomis to Tyneside and will make the France international an offer he can't refuse, including a 370,000 yearly salary, with Turkish giants Fenerbache and Galatasaray looming. We're in urgent need of striking reinforcements before the season begins and Alan Pardew will undoubtedly relish adding a forward of Gomis' calibre to his attacking arsenal having lost top scorer Loic Remy during the close season. And the idea of the 28-year-old pulling on a Black and White shirt is a tantalising one indeed. When in the mood he is unplayable. But, as with any transfer, there is an inevitable caveat. Gomis will be 29 in August and approaching the prime years of his career where he will expect a long-term contract on high wages that will give him the scope to retire in his mid-thirties. On a two-year deal he would be a low risk addition to the squad but the likelihood is that he'll crave security and that is something we can't see Newcastle offering to him, especially given his limited resale value.
